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Updated: Mar 20, 2026
Using a Split-belt Treadmill to Evaluate Generalization of Human Locomotor Adaptation
Published on: August 23, 2017
Increased Adaptation Rates and Reduction in Trial-by-Trial Variability in Subjects with Cerebral Palsy Following a
Firas Mawase1, Simona Bar-Haim2, Katherin Joubran2
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevBeer-Sheva, Israel; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, BaltimoreMD, USA; Zlotowski Center for NeuroscienceBeer-Sheva, Israel.
Individuals with Cerebral Palsy (CP) show improved locomotor adaptation and reduced movement variability after training. This improvement is linked to reduced execution variability and is retained long-term, suggesting adaptation learning is possible in CP.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Cerebral Palsy (CP) impacts motor skills and sensorimotor adaptation due to early brain injury.
- High execution variability in CP may underlie adaptation deficits, not a general learning impairment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between performance variability and sensorimotor adaptation deficits in Cerebral Palsy.
- To assess the effects of multi-session locomotor adaptation training on individuals with CP.
Main Methods:
- Adolescents with diplegic CP underwent 15 weeks of split-belt treadmill training (30 sessions).
- Locomotor adaptation and execution variability were assessed before, during, and 6 months after training.
- Comparison was made with age-matched healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Subjects with CP initially exhibited poor adaptation and high execution variability compared to controls.
- Training significantly reduced execution variability and increased learning rates in the CP group.
- Reduced variability and improved adaptation were correlated and retained 6 months post-training.
Conclusions:
- Locomotor adaptation in CP is strongly associated with execution variability.
- Variability reduction generalizes across locomotor contexts, but savings require multiple training exposures.
- These findings suggest targeted interventions can improve motor adaptation in individuals with CP.
